Once one has an opinion on a subject it will often become difficult to see an alternative perspective. If a topic is controversial then people will become polarized on the issue, and many will refuse to listen to opposing arguments. During the animal rights movement in 1989, Dr. Ron Kline was studying experimental medical technology at the National Cancer Institute in Washington D.C. In the Newsweek article “A Scientist: ‘I Am The Enemy’.” Kline is effective in justifying research on animals through his thorough explanation of the necessity of accurate test subjects when discovering new medical treatments.
Kline’s first argument begins by addressing what he believes to be a common initial reaction to animal testing “I am the enemy! One of those…show more content… Kline explains that there are real risks to eliminating medical research on animals, “the impact may not be felt for years and decades…there is a danger that the politically expedient solutions will be found to placate a vocal minority” (Kline 599). Examples of long term consequences are put in to perspective by listing past advances, “Vaccines, antibiotics, insulin, and drugs to treat heart disease, hyper tension and stroke are all based on animal research” (Kline 599). By stating how animal testing has improved medical care, Kline hints that cures for health problems we take for granted could have gone undiscovered. The reader may be forced to acknowledge a time when one of these treatments were needed in their own life. Immediately after Kline has his audience thinking about how this research has effected them, Kline then offers a new perspective “life is often cruel, both to animals and human beings” (Kline 599). This forces the public to realize that either people or animals will have to suffer to some extent. This, life is not fair, argument is effective because medical research offers potential for a world where animal testing is a thing of the past, and most major health problems have been
